Archbishop Diarmuid Martin praised educational pluralism in his homily at the opening Mass for a new amalgamated Catholic primary school.

Dr Martin said “Pluralism is something welcome. The fruits of such pluralism will have to be measured, however, not just in the provision of schools, but in an outcome in which every school, independent of its patronage, becomes a places of welcome for the deprived, the marginalised and those with educational challenges.”

St James’ primary school formed after two Dublin schools, St James’ CBS for boys and the Mater Dei National school for girls, amalgamated to allow for the creation of a new Educate Together school in the vacated premises. Educate Together CEO Paul Rowe was among those in attendence at the opening ceremony.

Dr Martin wished success to the new non-denominational school, and said that “What is happening here this morning is the expression not of a retreat from the tradition of Catholic education, but of the beginnings of a new presence… Catholic education still has its vital place in our educational system, as something which brings its unique value system, a value system which is recognised also by families of a variety of religious traditions in this community who opt to send their children to a Catholic school.”

“Catholic ethos” he said “is about what we heard of in our Gospel reading. It is about love, about caring for each other, about rejoicing when we can pass on to young boys and girls something of the richness of a faith based on the call to love and to rejoice when those we are called to teach and inspire even go beyond us ourselves.”

That is a real part of the tradition of these two schools, which today amalgamate to continue to transmit the message of Jesus Christ for whom children were the signs of ihs own kingdom.  God bless this school in its new form and God bless all those involved in the work of education in this community.”